David Wright needs 6-8 weeks of rest for herniated disk in neck
— -- MIAMI -- New York Mets captain David Wright will refrain from baseball activity for the next six to eight weeks in a bid to return from a herniated disk in his neck while avoiding surgery.
Wright officially landed on the disabled list Friday. He already had been idle for a week as doctors unsuccessfully tried oral anti-inflammatory medication and then an injection in the neck to try to alleviate pain and improve mobility so Wright could get back on the field.
While avoiding baseball activity, Wright "will undergo appropriate physiotherapy to protect the area," the team announced.
Wright will visit Dr. Robert Watkins in California in the next several days, ESPN's Jayson Stark reported. Watkins has been treating Wright for chronic spinal stenosis in his lower back.
Sources indicate surgery may be required down the road if the situation does not sufficiently improve.
Manager Terry Collins has compared Wright's situation to a similar herniated disk issue with former Mets reliever Bobby Parnell. Parnell required surgery in September 2013.
Wright's extended absence is the latest blow to a struggling and depleted Mets lineup. Catcher Travis d'Arnaud (strained rotator cuff) and first baseman Lucas Duda (stress fracture in lower back) also are on the disabled list for extended periods.
The Mets enter Friday's series opener at Marlins Park ranked 29th in the majors with a .230 batting average and 28th in runs scored. They have scored a total of nine runs in their past five games. The lone win during that span came in a 1-0 victory against the Chicago White Sox, a game started by Matt Harvey on Monday.
For now, Wilmer Flores (.167, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 60 ABs) is expected to assume the primary role at third base in place of Wright.
The Mets have resisted the more radical idea of moving Neil Walker to third base and promoting prospect Dilson Herrera to handle second base. Walker started 13 games at third base with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2009 and 2010. He started 348 minor league games at the position.
Infielder Matt Reynolds has been promoted from Triple-A Las Vegas to fill Wright's roster spot.
With both starting corner infielders out for prolonged periods, general manager Sandy Alderson may feel compelled to upgrade from outside the organization. The Mets did acquire James Loney last weekend from the San Diego Padres for cash to help plug first base. Loney had been playing with Triple-A El Paso. He is off to a 1-for-9 start with the Mets.
Last July, Alderson acquired Yoenis Cespedes at the non-waiver trade deadline. He also brought in Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe. The Mets became the first team in major league history to rank last in runs scored on July 31 and still reach the World Series.
The 33-year-old Wright has been tormented by injuries in recent seasons. He missed four months in 2015 because of spinal stenosis in his lower back. That issue continues to affect Wright, who is always dealing with some level of discomfort.
The Mets do have protection for extended Wright absences. They began recouping 75 percent of his salary last year after his absence for spinal stenosis exceeded 60 days. That would again be the case this year.
Wright will earn $20 million a season through 2018, then $15 million in '19 and $12 million in '20.
"This guy has been a special player in baseball," Collins said Tuesday, when the seriousness of the neck issue became apparent. "Certainly being the captain and the face of this organization, a manager's worst nightmare is to see a star start to fade. I think David's got a lot of baseball left in him because of the way he prepares and the way he gets himself ready. But it's hard to watch what he's going through ... as good as he was. I'll tell you: There's a lot of guys in this room that would not do what he does every day just to get ready to go play a baseball game. He's still special. He's still a great player."
